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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> A flash needed for my Olympus E-500
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Showing posts 1 - 13 of 13, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 11/13/2006 06:42:12 PM · #1
I guess I have been trying to avoid the inevitable - buying a flash. But I'm finding that with the low lighting situations in Vermont I really need one. Can anyone recommed a good quality flash for primarily outside portraits? Thanks.
Louisa
 11/13/2006 06:43:17 PM · #2
I used both the FL-36 and the FL-50 when I had my E1 and my E300. I'd recommend either one for the use you are going to use. I'd also recommend a Gary Fong Lightsphere for it.

MattO
 11/13/2006 07:07:17 PM · #3
My dad has a ProMaster flash for his Oly C8080, which uses the same flash units as the E-1. The Olympus flash units are, IMO, wayyyy overpriced (I think the FL-50 was around $400). While the build quality is not as good as the Oly units, the results from the ProMaster flash are great.
 11/13/2006 07:37:51 PM · #4
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
My dad has a ProMaster flash for his Oly C8080, which uses the same flash units as the E-1. The Olympus flash units are, IMO, wayyyy overpriced (I think the FL-50 was around $400). While the build quality is not as good as the Oly units, the results from the ProMaster flash are great.


I wonder about your statement, the FL50 is about $400 and the 580EX Canon is around $400. They are both top of the line for the camera they are designed for and are superior in performance and build to others. So do you also think the 580EX is overpriced? Or is it simply a case of you get what you pay for?

MattO
 11/13/2006 08:00:50 PM · #5
buy a fast lens first.... thats my suggestion.

otherwise unless you need ttl get a sunpak 555 or vivitar 285... that's where you pay less and get a whole lotta light.
 11/13/2006 09:54:59 PM · #6
Originally posted by MattO:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
My dad has a ProMaster flash for his Oly C8080, which uses the same flash units as the E-1. The Olympus flash units are, IMO, wayyyy overpriced (I think the FL-50 was around $400). While the build quality is not as good as the Oly units, the results from the ProMaster flash are great.


I wonder about your statement, the FL50 is about $400 and the 580EX Canon is around $400. They are both top of the line for the camera they are designed for and are superior in performance and build to others. So do you also think the 580EX is overpriced? Or is it simply a case of you get what you pay for?

MattO


Yes, I think the 580EX is overpriced too. At the time my Dad bought his Promaster, the 580 was not out, the 550 was the top of the line Canon Flash and it was just over $300. The FL-50 was way out there at $400, more than either the top line Canon or Nikon flash units. I believe that he paid about $150 for his Promaster unit.

There are less expensive solutions that provide great results for those who are open to third party flash units. Sigma springs to mind with the 500 DG Super that provides the funtionality of the top end camera brand flash unit for less.

Unfortunately for Olympus owners, Sigma does not make a unit for Olympus cameras. Promaster does. In fact, the Promaster unit that my dad purchased has a feature that none of the camera brand flash units has; a second fill flash head. This means that if you bounce the main head, this smaller tube fires directly forward and fills in the shadows created by the bounce flash coming from overhead. I believe that Metz also has this feature on a few units, but the Metz units are as much as the camera brand units.

I'll give you the build quality issue, but I would question your assertion that somehow the Camera brand units are superior in performance to the 3rd party brands. There are plenty of wedding pros that swear by the third party brand flash units they use. Those guys live or die by their flash units and their skills at using them. What are you referring to when you say the camera brand flash gives superior performance?

Message edited by author 2006-11-13 21:55:44.
 11/13/2006 10:48:17 PM · #7
Originally posted by glassy16:
Can anyone recommed a good quality flash for primarily outside portraits?


I own the FL-20, FL-36, FL-40 and FL-50.

I've used the -36 and -50 extensively. They are both great flashes. The -50 is incredibly powerful, I keep it at least one stop underexposed all the time. With the -36, it seems I'm pushing it a bit much.

Either way, plan on dedicating some serious time to learning how they work and how they alter the image. Even in Full-TTL, flash takes some work.
 11/13/2006 11:23:39 PM · #8
thanks all for your responses - so many to review. Wow, I didn't know they would be so spendy. Ugh.
Petrakka- you remember me from before, I'm surprise since it's been awhile. Yes, you are probably right the lense kit I know is not the most superior lense. What would you recommend then? I really want the 50mm but perhaps a zoom would be a little better. Any suggestions? Again, all my shooting is children - mostly in studio but venturing out as well.
 11/13/2006 11:46:34 PM · #9
Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Yes, I think the 580EX is overpriced too. At the time my Dad bought his Promaster, the 580 was not out, the 550 was the top of the line Canon Flash and it was just over $300. The FL-50 was way out there at $400, more than either the top line Canon or Nikon flash units. I believe that he paid about $150 for his Promaster unit.

There are less expensive solutions that provide great results for those who are open to third party flash units. Sigma springs to mind with the 500 DG Super that provides the funtionality of the top end camera brand flash unit for less.

Unfortunately for Olympus owners, Sigma does not make a unit for Olympus cameras. Promaster does. In fact, the Promaster unit that my dad purchased has a feature that none of the camera brand flash units has; a second fill flash head. This means that if you bounce the main head, this smaller tube fires directly forward and fills in the shadows created by the bounce flash coming from overhead. I believe that Metz also has this feature on a few units, but the Metz units are as much as the camera brand units.

I'll give you the build quality issue, but I would question your assertion that somehow the Camera brand units are superior in performance to the 3rd party brands. There are plenty of wedding pros that swear by the third party brand flash units they use. Those guys live or die by their flash units and their skills at using them. What are you referring to when you say the camera brand flash gives superior performance?


My assertion about this comes from experience. I have used both the Sigma 500DG super and the 420EX and 580EX that I have. I also had the lower Oly line FL36 and the higher FL50. Depending on your use and your needs the upper level one is well worth the extra money. I'm open to anything if the results are there. However they arent always there with lesser flashes. In reference to performance the ETTL seems to always be spot on with the Canon and Oly flashes while I had to dial down or dial up the sigma all the time to get the needed correct amount of flash. Maybe its just my experience your mileage may vary.

MattO
 11/14/2006 03:49:04 AM · #10
Originally posted by MattO:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Yes, I think the 580EX is overpriced too. At the time my Dad bought his Promaster, the 580 was not out, the 550 was the top of the line Canon Flash and it was just over $300. The FL-50 was way out there at $400, more than either the top line Canon or Nikon flash units. I believe that he paid about $150 for his Promaster unit.

There are less expensive solutions that provide great results for those who are open to third party flash units. Sigma springs to mind with the 500 DG Super that provides the funtionality of the top end camera brand flash unit for less.

Unfortunately for Olympus owners, Sigma does not make a unit for Olympus cameras. Promaster does. In fact, the Promaster unit that my dad purchased has a feature that none of the camera brand flash units has; a second fill flash head. This means that if you bounce the main head, this smaller tube fires directly forward and fills in the shadows created by the bounce flash coming from overhead. I believe that Metz also has this feature on a few units, but the Metz units are as much as the camera brand units.

I'll give you the build quality issue, but I would question your assertion that somehow the Camera brand units are superior in performance to the 3rd party brands. There are plenty of wedding pros that swear by the third party brand flash units they use. Those guys live or die by their flash units and their skills at using them. What are you referring to when you say the camera brand flash gives superior performance?


My assertion about this comes from experience. I have used both the Sigma 500DG super and the 420EX and 580EX that I have. I also had the lower Oly line FL36 and the higher FL50. Depending on your use and your needs the upper level one is well worth the extra money. I'm open to anything if the results are there. However they arent always there with lesser flashes. In reference to performance the ETTL seems to always be spot on with the Canon and Oly flashes while I had to dial down or dial up the sigma all the time to get the needed correct amount of flash. Maybe its just my experience your mileage may vary.

MattO


While I haven't used the Oly flash units, I have used Canon, Metz, Sigma and Promaster units with TTL and have never had any issues with exposure that could be attributed to the flash unit.
 04/18/2007 12:26:56 PM · #11
ok... so the more I read on the subject the more confused I am.
( TTL, AF, Analog, Digital )

I used an old flash a few times. It worked fine but it was all in manual mode.

I would like to get a flash unit for my E-500 but can not justify the prices of the OEM ones... I think anything over $100 way too much, for my casual use anyway.

Does anyone have any expecience with flash units that would provide the functionality of working not only in the manual mode ?

thank you !
 04/18/2007 03:01:52 PM · #12
Originally posted by deacueducto:
ok... so the more I read on the subject the more confused I am.
( TTL, AF, Analog, Digital )

I used an old flash a few times. It worked fine but it was all in manual mode.

I would like to get a flash unit for my E-500 but can not justify the prices of the OEM ones... I think anything over $100 way too much, for my casual use anyway.

Does anyone have any expecience with flash units that would provide the functionality of working not only in the manual mode ?

thank you !


Not with a budget of $100
 04/19/2007 10:53:16 AM · #13
How about something like this ?

//cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300103120754

or are they not worth the money ?

for my casual use, I would probably be fine with a cheaper unit and the manual mode...

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